Okay, I got a little excited when I said the Spurs could beat the Heat. I don’t take back what I said because thru the first half of the game they were leading the Heat and I honestly think they can win against them. Wade wasn’t playing so it seemed all too perfect for the Spurs. Then, LeBron decided to go crazy and take over the game. LeBron had 33 points and Chris Bosh added 30 for the Heat who ended up stomping the Spurs in the second half, outscoring them 39-12 in the third quarter. After that loss, they traveled to Orlando to take on the Magic and I happened to be at the game.

Here is what I can tell you about that game. It was so boring offensively. No one was making shots (until Tony Parker in the fourth quarter) and, not trying to be biased here, but had the Magic made their shots, they should have won the game. BUT they didn’t, and after an overtime period the Spurs captured their first victory on the road, winning 85-83. They also earned their first loss at home two days later, losing to the Sacramento Kings.

Six of the Spurs losses have come on the road and nine of their wins came at home. So why can’t they win on the road? Honestly, I don’t have the answer to that. Of their seven losses, only two were blowouts (to Houston in December and then the Heat last week). They aren’t playing poorly on offensive. They are just unable to close out games late. Last night they lost to Houston, 105-102. Sure, it was their fourth game in five nights. But Tony Parker had 24 points and 13 assists and Tiago Splitter had a career high 25 points and 10 rebounds. They shot 44% from the field compared to Houston’s 55%. They could not create a good last shot to take and ultimately lost. Sure, Tim Duncan wasn’t playing because he was being rested. But could he have changed the outcome of the game? Probably not.

Monday they are on the road again, heading to New Orleans to face the Hornets. Ranking fifth in the league in points per game, I am absolutely baffled as to why they can’t score their 98.9 points a game in someone else’s arena. Parker is up to averaging 17.6 points a game, but needs to take more control in the closing minutes of the game. In Orlando, he had the majority of his points in the fourth quarter and halftime. If he played like that every game, being offensively effective in the final minutes and creating good plays for his teammates, the Spurs might have a very different record. Does anyone have ANY suggestions on how the Spurs can win on the road or how this inability will affect their playoff hopes?